Southeast Missourian Player of the Week: Jordan Gramling

Central swimming coach Dayna Powell said senior Jordan Gramling's preparation before a race plays a large role in his success.

"The thing that I really like about Jordan is he might get a little nervous but he doesn't get overly nervous," Powell said. "He's very good at focusing on his race only. You look at him behind the blocks before the race, he's not looking around. He's doesn't look worried. He's looking at the pool and you can tell he's definitely focused on what he's doing.

"He stays under control mentally and keeps everything in perspective real well."

Gramling finished second in the 100 freestyle (49.01 seconds) and third in the 50 freestyle (22.65) at Saturday's Cape Rock Invitational. Gramling owned the state's fastest time in the 100 freestyle -- 48.42 -- until Saturday, Powell said.

"He's had it from Sept. 20 until [Saturday]," Powell said.

Gramling earned a victory in the 100 butterfly and a second in the 100 backstroke at Central's five-team meet Thursday.

Success in the pool is nothing new for Gramling. He earned a pair of medals at last year's state meet with a fifth-place finish in the 100 freestyle and a sixth-place finish in the 50 freestyle. He also competed on Central's 400 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay teams at the state meet. He swam at the state meet as a sophomore, when he competed on the Tigers' 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams, and as a freshman, when he swam the 100 freestyle.

"He's a strong guy and he's very athletic," Powell said. "He's definitely designed for sprinting. He's powerful, strong and those things."